Modular shipping case



June 3, 1969' c. (5. SMITH ET AL MODULAR SHIPPING CASE Sheet Filed Dec.5, 1966 v INYENTORS CARL 6. SMITH By LLOY D A. NELSON $114M{jail-1.4.1.4

ATTORNEYS June 3, 1969 c. G. SMITH ET AL MODULAR SHIPPING CASE N 2 wHO fTT 0 N -L W m z m m M D m mm m 3 L L Y B m G l w F 5 C e D d e l 1 FUnited States Patent 3,447,733 MODULAR SHIPPING CASE Carl G. Smith,Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, and

Lloyd A. Nelson, Fremont, Mich., assignors to Gerber Products Company,Fremont, Mich.

Filed Dec. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 599,068 Int. Cl. B65d /02, 5/45, 1/36,5/54, 5/70, 17/00 US. Cl. 229-37 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Amodular shipping case comprised of a pair of container sections arrangedin side-by-side relationship with a side panel of one of the containersections in juxtaposition to the side panel of the other containersection. The juxtaposed side panels have means thereon interconnectingthe same whereby the container sections form a container unit capable ofbeing shipped and stored. The container sections are formed from aninitially flat sheet of corrugated material which is provided with foldlines and is cut into two parts which are :folded to define thecontainer sections.

This invention relates to improvements in shipping containers and, moreparticularly, to a shipping case com prised of a pair of separablecontainer sections or modules each adapted to hold articles ofmerchandise independently of the other.

The present invention resides in a shipping case having a pair ofadhesively or otherwise removably interconnected container sections eachhaving a ripcord to permit opening of the section when the sections havebeen separated from each other. The container sections are formed bycutting a blank into two parts after the blank has been stamped orotherwise handled to provide fold lines and slits in the parts atspecific locations thereon. The parts are assembled into the containersections.

While the invention can be used in a number of different ways, it isespecially adapted for containing glass food jars of the type used forbaby food. For this use, the bottom of each module has two inner and twoouter flaps, similar to a standard RSC (regular slotted container)shipping case. The top of each module contains two inner flaps and oneouter flap. Two modules are joined in siamesed fashion to form ashipping case for 24 jars and initially can be used as a standard 4 x 6RSC shipping case to ship glassware from glass works to food processingplant, for hand or mechanical unloading of glassware and for repackingthe finished products, via standard drop packing equipment. Subsequentlythis modular case can be disjoined into single modules and opened bysevering with the ripcord to produce trays (2 x 6) with 12 jars on eachtray.

By forming a pair of substantially identical container sections from asingle blank, certain advantages result with respect to handling thecase containers after the case has been opened. In merchandising certaintypes of food products, such as baby food in jars, it is convenient todisplay the products on trays formed by the bottom portion of a shippingcase after it has been opened. For baby food jars, for example, it hasbeen the general practice to use shipping cases which hold twenty-fourjars in a 4 x 6 single layer distribution. A tray of twenty-four jarsdistributed in this manner is somewhat unwieldy and the jars oftentimesfall from the tray during shelving operations, resulting in a completeloss of their containers. By utilizing two trays where one formerly wasused, the job of transferring the products to a display is simplified.

The present invention provides for the formation of a pair of containersections which are normally joined together and which have side wallripcords stitched therein. While they are joined, the container sectionsdefine a shipping case unit that can be shipped and stored in the usualmanner, however, the sections can be separated from each other andopened by pulling on their ripcoards so that a pair of trays are formed.The trays are of a convenient size for quickly and easily transferringthe products to a display shelf.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a shipping case formedfrom a pair of container sections which are removably joined together sothat, upon separation, the side walls of the sections can be severed andthe bottoms of the sections can be used as trays for supporting thecontents for display or other purposes.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a blank of cardboardmaterial from which a pair of shipping case sections can be formed afterthe blank has been stitched along a pair of spaced, longitudinallyextending lines whereby each section has a ripcord stitched in its sidewall to thereby avoid having to place the ripcords in the sections afterthe same are assembled.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as thespecification progresses, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blank for forming the shipping case ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pair of shipping case modules formedby the blank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shipping case formed by attachingthe sections of FIG. 2 together; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views showing the way in which the sections are openedto expose their contents.

Case is formed from a blank 112 of the type shown in FIG. 1. This blankis provided with four longitudinal fold lines 114 and four transversefold lines 116 in addition to a pair of boxmakers tabs 124. Blank 112also has slits 126, including three central slits, at particularlocations thereon relative to fold lines 114 and 116 so that, when theblank is divided into two parts in a predetermined manner, the parts canbe manipulated to form the modules as shown in FIG. 2.

Blank 112 is first stamped to form fold lines 114 and 116 and slits 126.Following this operation, the blank is moved through a sewing machineand ripcords 128 are stitched in the panels which correspond to the sidewalls of respective modules. The stitching operation is continued beyondthe end edges of the blank. Thus, each ripcord 128 has an end 130projecting outwardly from the corresponding end edge 132 of blank 112.

After the stitching operation blank 112 is divided into two parts. Thisis accomplished by severing the blank along an irregular line includingsegment 137, a portion of a first of the central slits 126, segment 139,a portion of a second central slit 126, segment 141, a portion of athird central slit 126, and segment 143. The irregular line describedabove extends from edge 132 to the opposite edge 134 adjacent tabs 124.In practice, the two parts of the blank are held together by severalshort dinks or coupling members integral with the parts. These dinks areformed during the original blanking and scoring operation.

After the blank has been divided, the bottom flaps and the side panelsare assembled in the usual manner. However, the top of each module isdefined by a pair of end flaps and a single side flap 147. Flap 147completely covers the top of its module when the latter is closed. Thus,there is no need for an opposite flap.

Modules 111 and 113 are preferably joined by spot gluing at locations149 on the normally innermost side panel 151 as shown in FIG. 2. Whenjoined in this manner, the modules define case 110 as noted in FIG. 3and the case can be moved and stored without destroying the bond betweenthe modules.

When the case is to be opened, the modules are pulled apart and areopened in the manner shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The products in the modulesare thus accessible and the bottoms of the modules serve as supporttrays.

Before case 110 is put into use, the modules are joined together.Thereafter, the case can be used for transporting the empty containersto a place of manufacture, such as a filling and processing station. Atthis latter location, the containers are removed from the case, arefilled and processed, and are put back into the case and the case isclosed. Thereafter, it may then be stored or transported as desired.

Case 110 is especially suitable for use with glass jars of the type forcontaining baby food. The dimensions of the cases are preferably chosenso that the cases will contain twenty-four jars in a 4 x 6 pattern.Thus, each of the modules 111 and 113 of case 110 will contain twelvejars in a 2 x 6 pattern. This is a convenient number for handling andavoids having to sever the bottom of case 110 after it has been opened.

While one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, itwill be apparent that other adaptations and modifications can be madewithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A modular shipping case comprising: a pair of modular containersections formed from respective, initially flat blanks cut from a singlesheet of corrugated material having an area substantially equal to thesum of the areas of the blanks and provided with a number oflongitudinal and transverse fold lines with said transverse fold linesdividing the sheet into first, second, third and fourth panels, thethird panel being between said second and fourth panels andlongitudinally spaced from said first panel and said second panel beingbetween said first and third panels and longitudinally spaced from saidfourth panel, said sheet being separated into two parts by a number oflongitudinal and transverse cut lines, there being a longitudinal cutline extending through each panel, respectively, and a transverse cutline extending partially through the junction of each pair of adjacentpanels, respectively, each transverse cut line joining the ends ofadjacent longitudinal cut lines, the longitudinal cut lines through thefirst and third panels being in substantial longitudinal alignment witheach other substantially midway between the side edges of the sheet, thelongitudinal cut line through the second panel coinciding with alongitudinal fold line of the sheet on one side of the longitudinal cutlines of said first and third panels, the longitudinal cut line throughthe fourth panel coinciding wtih a longitudinal fold line of the sheeton the opposite side of the longitudinal cut lines of said first andthird panels, said blanks being folded along their fold lines to definesaid container sections with each container section having a pair ofopposed end walls provided with top and bottom flap means and a pair ofopposed sidewalls provided with bottom flap means, only one of thesidewalls of each container section being provided with top flap means,said container sections being disposed in proximity to each other withthe top flap-free sidewall of one section disposed in juxtaposition tothe corresponding sidewall of the other sections; and means on thejuxtaposed sidewalls for releasably securing the same together topresent a container unit capable of being moved and stored.

2. A modular shipping case as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidsecuring means includes an adhesive at each of a number of spacedlocations on said juxtaposed sidewalls.

3. A modular shipping case as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sheethas a number of slits coinciding with each transverse fold line,respectively, one of the slits at each transverse fold line defining thecorresponding transverse cut line.

4. A modular shipping case as set forth in claim -1, wherein said topflap means of each container section comprises a single top flap coupledto said one sidewall for movement into and out of covering relationshipto the open top of the section.

5. A modular shipping case as set forth in claim 1, wherein said topfiap means of each container section comprises a single top flap havingan outer longitudinal edge, the longitudinal cut lines of said secondand fourth panels defining the outer edges of respective top flaps.

6. A modular shipping case as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sheetis provided with means extending longitudinally thereof and disposed oneach side, respectively, of the longitudinal cut lines of the first andthird panels for severing the sheet, whereby the severing meanscorresponding to each container section can be used to separate thelatter into top and bottom portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,323,779 7/ 1943 Kennedy 229-512,596,331 5/ 1952 Ferguson 229-51 2,614,745 10/ 1952 Fallert et al.229-51 3,043,490 7/ 1962 Burnett 229-51 3,144,190 8/ 1964 Holt et al.229-51 3,158,312 11/1964 Simkins 229-51 3,159,328 12/ 1964 Keim 229-513,163,351 12/1964 Borgardt 229-51 3,252,646 5/ 1966 Rockefeller 229-512,367,717 1/ 1945 Davidson. 2,737,334 3/1956 Halgren 229-15 3,113,67312/ 1963 Stein.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 229-15, 51

